Clyde Compliments

Heading back in from a group ride this evening, a rider I don't know compliments me on my strength with something like, "you're riding strong, ... at your size I didn't think you'd ride this strong, especially on these hills". We followed up with a conversation about weight and cycling, a nice chat - and then rode into town. Near the end where it always heats up with a couple of rollers I launch off the wheel and take off - nobody follows except this guy, and once we've reached the cooldown coast back to the finish the guy says, "if you lost 30 or 40# you'd be hanging right with the racer types". Well that ain't gonna happen, but I could see myself reasonably at 200-205 (I'm around 6'0, and currently at 225).

So, while it sounds kinda odd, I thought it entirely positive. I have been riding a lot, (on pace to meet my oft-missed 4K mile year) and I'm getting stronger (if not too much lighter) as a result. I'm motivated to get the lbs off - as I'm tired of being the slow guy in the group blowing himself up just to keep up (not this ride, but just in general).

I believe this rider was giving you a compliment. It's probably not often he would see a "larger" rider out on the road with the usual folks he rides with. The fact that you held in there and actually showed power and stamina it impressed him. I did a ride with a group a few weeks ago and the one person who was the spokesperson from the bike group said she was impressed I was able to do the ride and was near the front of the pack. In all fairness I did tell her that was the longest ride I have done in a long time and I was completely out of shape but she was acting like I did a stage on the TdF.

One of the fastest guys in one of the clubs I ride with is a masher who weighs a little more than me (and is I think an inch or two shorter). I had one of the rabbits telling me it's all about spinning, but after watching this guy I decided that maybe mashing is okay for some of us.

I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.

Originally Posted by bragi"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."

One of my biggest thrills taken on a compliment was couple years back, last time I did ride Around the Bear (century with 10,000 ft of climbing). On the last section back into town I was alone flying on a long straight section at about 28 mph when I spotted a blue train flying up behind me. The 4 guys eventually passed me and I was tempted to jump on the back but didn't as my thing is to do my rides solo on timed events, no drafting.

I thought ,"wow, they look fast, same uniforms, all thin fit and razor cut looking dudes and good organization in the pace line" I fell behind about 100 yards but used them as rabbits to keep a fast pace. I rolled into the time keeper's station just after them. The time keeper scanned their bar codes so the time was loudly announced by the electronic voice of the computer. To add the experience, there are several riders standing around listening to the results.

I stepped up to the computer and it loudly read my time, 15 minutes better than the group of fast guys!. The 4 guys looked at me like "WTF!" and the time keeper shouted "Wow, that's a great time!" I said thanks to the timekeeper then looked over at the group of razor cut guys with my best face as if to say "yeah, that's right MOFO's"! Then I rode off into the sunset. The sun doesn't set at 1 pm but hey, you know.......

I stepped up to the computer and it loudly read my time, 15 minutes better than the group of fast guys!. The 4 guys looked at me like "WTF!" and the time keeper shouted "Wow, that's a great time!" I said thanks to the timekeeper then looked over at the group of razor cut guys with my best face as if to say "yeah, that's right MOFO's"! Then I rode off into the sunset. The sun doesn't set at 1 pm but hey, you know.......

Badass!

I would LOVE to be able to make a roadie suffer, but I wasn't able to do that even at 117 pounds, at least not to a male rider. I did out-climb plenty of men who didn't look like typical roadies though, and almost all women except for the ones who looked like serious roadies.

I would LOVE to be able to make a roadie suffer, but I wasn't able to do that even at 117 pounds, at least not to a male rider. I did out-climb plenty of men who didn't look like typical roadies though, and almost all women except for the ones who looked like serious roadies.

What's cool IMO, is that this is considered a tough century "Not for beginners" so you know the riders out there are all good riders. So placing at #123 out of 400 is pretty decent for a Clyde IMO. As someone stated the other day, you look around and know that you outweigh everybody by 60-70 lbs.

From their website:

CYCLIST MAGAZINE REVIEW in 1987

One of the all time great centuries. There is little more satisfying than cruising nearly 40 miles down the 7000- foot descent from Onyx Summit to Redlands. Not to mention the OCW feast at the end of the ride. This is a glorious ride but there is a little matter of climbing to Running Springs at 6030 feet. Big Bear Lake at 6750 feet and to Onyx Summit at 8443 feet to start with. This ride has been rated "One of the top ten most difficult centuries in the country" as stated by Cyclist Magazine in 1987 and California Cyclist in 1988 and is NOT for Beginners.

What's cool IMO, is that this is considered a tough century "Not for beginners" so you know the riders out there are all good riders. So placing at #123 out of 400 is pretty decent for a Clyde IMO. As someone stated the other day, you look around and know that you outweigh everybody by 60-70 lbs.

From their website:

CYCLIST MAGAZINE REVIEW in 1987

One of the all time great centuries. There is little more satisfying than cruising nearly 40 miles down the 7000- foot descent from Onyx Summit to Redlands. Not to mention the OCW feast at the end of the ride. This is a glorious ride but there is a little matter of climbing to Running Springs at 6030 feet. Big Bear Lake at 6750 feet and to Onyx Summit at 8443 feet to start with. This ride has been rated "One of the top ten most difficult centuries in the country" as stated by Cyclist Magazine in 1987 and California Cyclist in 1988 and is NOT for Beginners.

If you ever do another raw sufferfest video, that would be the ideal ride for it!